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We are waiting for the usual Flagger explanation (perhaps through an erstwhile spokesperson fresh from training to dodge bullets) that this was simply an ad for a sandwich.

Of course, these are also called subs (as well as grinders) so perhaps it’s all about the CSS H. L. Hunley. Or perhaps they are looking to replace Jared as Subway’s spokespeople, given their own concern for children.

UPDATE: In a desperate attempt at spin control, the Flaggers had this to say on their Facebook page:

Despite the unfortunate “typo” on the part of the pilot, the banner plane was a phenomenal success, circling downtown for two hours with a huge Battle Flag and a message that was perfectly clear, seen by thousands (including those gathered to protest our monuments) and, judging from the firestorm created on social media, obviously served to cause quite a few Anti-Confederate haters’ heads to explode on (visual) contact.Mission accomplished.

Two notes:

People exploding in laughter is not the same thing as having heads explode.

We see again, by the Flaggers’ own admission, that their mission is to annoy and aggravate people, not to honor the service and sacrifice of Confederate soldiers.

I’ve seen you misspell words on your blog; I guess that makes you an illiterate.

Besides, I haven’t found anything explaining why the word was misspelled…. Could be any number of reasons besides “a firm of illiterates.” But we can always count on your hate to put the worse spin on anything, even — or maybe especially — when you don’t know the truth about it … if the Virginia Flaggers are involved….

There is a problem with your explanation. Judy Smith Photography shared photos of the plane pre-flight. One of the photos have the words spread out. She was personally on hand and saw the banner before it went up in the air. Your pitiful excuses only make the Virginia Flaggers look worse.

The photos prove that a Virginia Flagger was there and saw the banner before it flew. It was laid out on the ground before her. So either she can’t read or she can’t spell. She’s provided the evidence of that.

Another Flagger flail from you, and fail all around.

Fun-hun-hun-nee!

But thanks for another example of Flagger dishonesty and stupidity. We couldn’t do it without y’all.

In recent years hasn’t every pronouncement by the SCV or Flaggers about one of their public events been deemed by them a “phenomenal success”? When was the last time they did something and public admitted “the turnout was less than we’d hoped, but we’ll keep fighting the good fight”? (Question is not rhetorical.)

Despite the unfortunate “typo” on the part of the pilot, the banner plane was a phenomenal success, circling downtown for two hours with a huge Battle Flag and a message that was perfectly clear, seen by thousands (including those gathered to protest our monuments). . . .

This is a point worth keeping in mind — “phenomenal success” for the Virginia Flaggers lies in attracting attention and notoriety, as opposed bringing about an actual change in policy at places like the VMFA or Lexington, or a measurable shift in public attitudes regarding the Confederacy and its symbols. Westboro Baptist Church, after all, also does an outstanding job of attracting attention and media coverage when they stage a protest, but it’s not the sort of coverage that most rational people would embrace, or brag about. If the Virginia Flaggers consider notoriety and the sort of press attention they got for the plane banner as a “phenomenal success,” then they are delusional.